Wandering the Web

Jul 12, 2010

Smart Grid Information ClearinghouseThe Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse launched a beta version website to enable stakeholders and the general public to access the site. Funded through the Recovery Act to provide technical, legislative, and project information on smart grid deployment, the Clearinghouse is managed by and run from the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute in Arlington, Va., with assistance from the IEEE Power & Energy Society and EnerNex Corporation.

Katherine Hamilton, president of GridWise® Alliance, serves on the Advisory Board for the Clearinghouse. “The team at Virginia Tech and IEEE has included key stakeholder groups, a variety of end users, and the GridWise Alliance Implementation Work Group in the review process. The team now encourages people to explore the site to see if they can find the information about smart grid they most need. The site starts with basic information and gradually gets more technical as you work through it," Hamilton added.

The website will take comments over the summer with an official launch in September. Comments should be posted on the Forum section of the site. A federal website, www.smartgrid.gov, tracks Recovery Act projects in detail and is connected into the Clearinghouse as well.

Integrated Environmental Modeling CollaborationThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching a new on-line tool for scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing that was built by Purdue University with support from the agency. The Integrated Environmental Modeling Hub (iemHUB) allows environmental researchers to analyze environmental problems and combine environmental models so that a better understanding of the environment can be developed – everything from keeping beaches clean to predicting climate effects.

The iemHUB is being released by the EPA-supported Community of Practice for Integrated Environmental Modeling (CIEM). The Community of Practice is an informal collaborative organization that was set up by EPA and other scientists to advance the state of the science and technology related to integrated modeling.

ISO/AS Certification ResourceManagement Systems International, LLC (MSI) of Carlsbad, Calif., has redesigned its website, MSI-International.com. According to the company, the website clearly explains international standards, why they need to be met and how MSI ensures their clients’ readiness in achieving certification in the standards while optimizing operations and reducing costs.

“ISO implementation is a daunting task and various levels of individuals within companies are tasked to find ISO resources so we wanted to streamline the research process and save visitors time” explained Diana Procter, president of MSI.

Waste Handling and Recycling E-CommerceWastequip, a waste handling and recycling equipment manufacturer, launched an e-commerce website that provides online access to the most commonly requested replacement parts for waste handling and hauling equipment. The site at www.partsplace-inc.com features a broad array of components, ranging from cables and cylinders to bearings and electronics.

“We designed Parts Place website based on input from a customer survey, which gave us insights into the features and functionality customers value most,” said Steve Kopka, parts and service manager for Wastequip. “Ease of use was at the top of every customer’s list of priorities, which we have addressed throughout the site. The overall architecture provides us with a framework for continual site expansion and enhancement.”

From the homepage, users can navigate directly to the latest product downloads, individual product information, and latest news. The site also gives users a complete overview of training courses available in the United States, Europe, Middle-East and Asia Pacific.

More Municipal Software InformationVisitors to Carroll Engineering Corporation's MuniLogic website can find comprehensive product information, a new progressive user interface, downloadable brochures of each product, a detailed service listing and several forms to apply for events, partnerships and general information.